The sad part of that is what the Jets are paying Fields. I don't know what Tyrod earns, but he must be sitting there thinking "I'm better. What did I do wrong in my career?" I know the Jets overpay for a short term commitment with Fields, but it's ridiculous how overpaid QB's are.
Wanted him back so badly they were offering him less money than we paid him which is low level starting QB money and wouldn't guarantee him the starting job.
This talk track that Tomlin wanted him back is kind of fake news I think…sure they made him a lowball offer very similar to the one we gave him and he chose us for whatever reason…but come on, if the Steelers REALLY wanted him back to be anything more than a backup, they certainly could have kept him by making a sweeter offer. It’s not like they offered him a big contract…they did a lowball offer because they knew Russell was out, they really wanted Rodgers (as they’ve said now that they knew all along it would work), and they wanted him as a backup option for continuity. Let’s not make it out like the Steelers were SO keen on keeping him and we stole him right out from them…that’s not the reality of what happened. Would they have liked to keep him for continuity? Sure. Were they REALLY concerned about it? Not so much.
Yeah, I think most of us recognize that it’s still WAY early to make any serious conclusions, and we all understand that we are kind of over-reacting maybe….we haven’t seen any joint team practices, or even a preseason game, so hard to know what we will be. But I think the reactions are coming mostly on Fields because most of us realize he hasn’t been very good, and we know it’s a long shot that he suddenly will “get it” and become better than he’s been for 3 years, but we keep hearing or reading about his performance (most of us haven’t been there to see it live) and it pretty much sounds like the “same old, same old” with him. The main issues for him have been an inability to make quick and correct reads, leading him to hold the ball too long, and a generally inaccurate arm by today’s QB standards. And from what we are hearing and reading, it sounds like these are still issues for him in training camp. As should be expected I guess…he didn’t magically become a 70% quick read passer over the spring and summer. So we shouldn’t be surprised. But I think the frustrations are coming from a place of hoping to see concrete signs of improvement and getting precious few of those…
i understand but I think it's overdone this early. The writers only report on the passing game. The Jets expect to run more often and in practice it's hard to simulate that. Anyway, my son is always pessimistic and I always look at the bright side. I expect Fields to do well. He doesn't have to be great for the team to win games.
It would seem odd to offer a guy a contract if you didn't care to have him back they didnt do the same with Russell Wilson by the way
Yah I get that…they offered him a low contract…not saying they didn’t want him back at all…I’m sure they’d have been happy to have him as a backup at a low cost. But the talk track often makes it sound like oh man, the Steelers REALLY wanted him back and we stole him away from them. Would they have liked him back? Sure I guess. Are they losing any sleep over not having him back? Not at all.
Why do you think 20 mil is a lowball offer? It's a fair/good offer that Pitt made to keep him, but he picked us. That was his market price (two teams offered similar) and Tomlin wanted to pay it, but Fields picked us. That's not fake news, that's a fact. Yes, they wanted him back, but he picked us. His market value was 20 mil, two teams offered, and we got him. Sure, they could have offered more, but then the same argument could be made for ANY player. You didn't REALLY want him since you didn't overpay. That's not how teams operate. His market value has been established with two teams, and he picked us. Pitts wanted him. Whether they will lose sleep over it or not, too early to tell. I sure hope so. but they did not get the guy they wanted, and were forced to plan B, that is a fact.
Exactly, and this was not chump change either. 20 mil is still a solid sum and is a decent chunk of salary cap. You don't offer this much to the guy you don't want. Tomlin wanted Fields, that much is established as a fact. Let's just hope it's a good thing he picked us instead.
I read it was a similar offer, but not guaranteeing part of second year. It was a solid offer. Of course it is a low level starting QB money, Fields hasn't proven to be high level starting QB. But 20 mil is 20 mil. Let's not change the facts: Tomlin wanted him back.
https://x.com/RobbySabo/status/1953441985634898418 "First team session with the fans in attendance is a positive for Justin Fields and the offense … —Starts with Fields finding Breece in the flat, secondary read, *on time and decisive*, not perfect but def worthy enough. —He then dirts one to Beck, short area, another secondary/outlet, not covered well enough to be that bad of a pass. —He then takes off after not finding anything downfield. What’s important? He was decisive again. Didn’t dance, didn’t overthink it, just let the play come to him. —Breece and Braelon had a rush each, the latter’s looked solid. —Fields finds GW on a quick one, three-stepper, primary, open space but short area. The beauty here was his arm angle, as he had to manipulate the motion against bit against the rush. —Fields to GW for the TD, as GW found a soft spot right on the goal line. Fields was on time and confident, delivering it right out of the break." Good day for the offense and Fields.
Well I love how Fields goes 8-14, which is 57%, and the talk track is he did well Sure…better than the last couple of days so that’s good, but I just still haven’t heard anything to make me believe he is going to take several steps forward…from what I’ve read, so far he has looked like what he’s been…a bad QB but he can cover some of that with his legs. Of course, we won’t really know what we’ve got until at least several games into the season, maybe midseason…it’s going to take some time for the new offense to settle in, for Fields to get comfortable in it, and of course to see what the real game planning will be. I’m trying to take it all with a grain of salt…it’s still WAY early, but even trying to be objective, so far it just looks like Fields will be the Fields that we’ve all seen. I still think we will be drafting a QB in the first round next year. I’d be very (pleasantly) surprised if Fields plays well enough to become our long term answer at QB this year.
We’ll just have to disagree on this…again, I’m not saying the Steelers didn’t want him back at all…clearly if that were true they wouldn’t have made any contract offer. My point is that the talk track sounds too much like we really beat out the Steelers for him and like that was some great accomplishment because, you know, Tomlin REALLY wanted him back but look how great it is that he chose us. Something like that…like we got over. We didn’t. The Steelers made a lowball offer for a QB…yes, in the real world, $20M is $20M and an incredible amount of money, but in the NFL, one year guarantee at that salary for a QB is chump change. It’s not “Look, we REALLY want you back here” money. And he was smart enough to see that the Steelers were already looking at Rodgers so he knew he’d have little to no chance of starting at Pitt, while he was basically told he’d be QB1 here. Easy choice. It’s not out of some huge love for the Jets. It’s a career salvaging decision…he needs to play, to start, and develop. Better chance of that here than at Pitt. Anyway…water under the bridge…he’s here. He’s a Jet. I will definitely cheer for him and hope he can develop into a mid-tier type QB. To me, if he ends up the year ranking somewhere between like 13th - 16th in the QBR ratings or whatever other metrics we use, that would be a pretty nice win for him and for us both. That won’t be enough to get to a Super Bowl, and may not even be enough to make the playoffs, but that would be about my expectations. I don’t think he’ll ever be a top ten QB, which is really what you need to be a consistent Super Bowl contender, but if our defense can be top ten, and our running game can dominate, then we have a shot to be in the wildcard picture late in the season. If instead he plays like a 20th - 25th type QB, then we ain’t sniffing the playoffs and we’ll be looking for a QB in the next draft.
I think in practice completion % is not a key stat. You saw about dropped passes, throw aways, etc... He only missed a couple of throws all day. But more importantly everyone who watched the practice said it was really good. Today was a positive good practice for him, there is no question about that. I am actually worried about weapons around Fields. Seems like Ruckert sucks and we do not have a #2 WR. Without Taylor it's just GW. And even with, Taylor is a 20 year old second round pick not really known for his catching ability, and he is our #2 pass catcher.
We will need to disagree. 20 mil for a guy of Fields pedigree is a good/fair offer. It's not low ball. You do not make this offer if you don't want the guy. Sure, Baker and Sam got 30, but they proved more. Fields' offer was good based on where he is in his career, which is below Baker/Sam, but it is sizable sum. You just don't give 20 mil if you don't want to the guy, even at QB, and that was my point about Tomlin. I see FIelds ceiling as Hurts, and I hope he achieves that. I think he has a chance. Let's see. If he can. amazing for us. If not, there is always next draft to try again. But I would like him to have another weapon though, I do think it can help. Seems like GW and second rate players now, particularly with Taylor hurt. And think about it, if we are counting on a 20 year old 2nd round rookie, who is not even known to be this amazing pass catcher, as #2 passing threat by a long shot, it's not great for a QB development.
they gotta do something at wide receiver. Theres just no way they can roll into the season with this. Make a trade or something
We're in a position where broken down Amari Cooper or one trick pony Gabe Davis would be significant upgrades.
